Atondido Stories
The Boy Who Had a Moon on his Forehead and a Sun on his
Chin
In a country were seven daughters of poor parents, who used to
come daily to play under the shady trees in the King's garden
with the gardener's daughter; and daily she used to say to them,
"When I am married I shall have a son. Such a beautiful boy as
he will be has never been seen. He will have a moon on his fore-
head and a star on his chin." Then her playfellows used to laugh
at her and mock her.
But one day the King heard her telling them about the beau-
tiful boy she would have when she was married, and he said to
himself he should like very much to have such a son; the more
so that though he had already four Queens he had no child. He
went, therefore, to the gardener and told him he wished to mar-
ry his daughter. This delighted the gardener and his wife, who
thought it would indeed be grand for their daughter to become a
princess. So they said "Yes" to the King, and invited all their
friends to the wedding. The King invited all his, and he gave the
gardener as much money as he wanted. Then the wedding was
held with great feasting and rejoicing.
A year later the day drew near on which the gardener's
daughter was to have her son; and the King's four other Queens
came constantly to see her. One day they said to her, "The King
hunts every day; and the time is soon coming when you will
have your child. Suppose you fell ill whilst he was out hunting
and could therefore know nothing of your illness, what would
you do then?"
When the King came home that evening, the gardener's
daughter said to him, "Every day you go out hunting. Should I
ever be in trouble or sick while you are away, how could I send
for you?" The King gave her a kettle-drum which he placed near
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